Governing mechanism for turbines.



l. i 1Q' h arci +I. Ric e.

R. H. RICE.

GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR TURBINES.

APPLIUATIONMLBD DEo.14, 1906.

957,902. Patented May 17, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. H. RICE. GOVBRNING MECHANISM FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.14, 1906.

Patented May 1'?, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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R. H; RIOB.

GOVERNING MEGHANISM FOR TURBINBS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.14, 1906,

Patented May 17, HMG.

95mmI Fichard iczfeai octty.

Witnesses;

UNITED STATES PATENT l onirica;

RICHARD H. RICE, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoB. 'ro GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

eovERNING MECHANISK FOR TUR'BINES.

4To all whom it ma-yconccm:

le it known that I, Rr'cn.\ nn Il. Rica, a.v citizen of v the United States, residing at. Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful moved to .and froover a series of ports, each of the latter supplying steam to one, two 'or more nozzles or'nozzle sections.

' The object of the invention lis to provide a governing mechanism of improved construction which will efficiently regulate the admission of elastic ftuid to a motor and at the same time be free from objectionable internal friction. j

The Scope of invention will be fully set forth'iii the specification and the claims appended thereto.

Iii the accom a iying drawings which illustrate one oft ie 4embodiments of my invention. Figure 1 isf-au end view of :i turbine; Fig'. 2 is a planV view of the same on a -reducedfscule with certain of the parts broken away; Fig. 3 is :i ,side elevation of l Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application tiled DecembenM, 1905. Serial No. 347,761.

the governing mechanism; Fig. 4 is :i section through the piston vulve that regulates the admission of elastic tluid to the nozzles or other fluid discharging devices; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the speed governor; and Fig. Gis a perspective vieushowing a means for vibrating the governing valve to overcome static friction. f

1 represents the easing of the turbine having an exhaust conduit and containing a wlieel-2.1"ig. 2, having one, two or more rows of 'wheel buckets. 'Steam or other elastic fluid is admitted to the wheel by nozzles or other discharging devices' 3, of which there may be as man v as desired. These nozzles may be formed in the same or in different structures. Motive iiuid is supplied thereto by means of ports 4 that are under `the control of a valve or valves, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The bucket wheel is mounted upon a shaft 5; ,the latter being provided'on its outer end with a worm 6, Fig. 4, meshing with a worin Wheel 7 mounted on a transverse low speed 'hollow' shaft 8.

On the right hand end o f the low speed 'ment is opposed by the spring 13 which Patented shaft is a governor, Fig. 1,' coni 'rising a casing 9 having a cover y10 for shie din'g-the'u -mternal mechanism. The construction of the governor is best shown in Fig. 5, wherein 11 representsa. weight actingby centrifugal force and inertia to move the throttle valve.

The weight arm is pivoted at l2 and the outward movement of the weight is in plp- OnA e position to the extension spring 13.

end ofthe arm opposite the wei ht .is aV a lever stud 14, Fig. l, to which is pivote 15 forming a. part of a toggle. Tothis lever is pivoted a ink 16,-the opposite end of which is attached to a collar 17- rotating.

with the low speed or governo; shaft 8. The

outer end of the lever 15 is 'attached to a trunnion block 18`containing a cylindrical opening through .whichthe valve actuating.A

rod 19V extends. The block is held in place by n uts screwed ou the rod., As'the'weight arm swings about its pivot 12 tlie lower orweighted end, Fig. 5, bein heavier than the Y other, will moveoutwar ly and cause the upper end to move inwardly toward the i' axis of the governor shaft 8. This action causes the outer end of the lever 15 to move the rod 19 longitudinally to the right and raise the valve and decrease the'adm-ission of. motive fiiiid to the turbine, as will appear more fully hereinafter. ,This move- That is to say, upon afsudden change in speed of the bucket wheel due" to. a change in load, the governor arm tends to rotate at its former s eed about its centerof gravity subject to t ie'constraint of the pivot for a brief 'interval and the effect of the 4mass distribution `also prevents 'hunting orJ excessive Vfluctuation in speed and in the amount' of motive fluid-admitted. Moreover a governo constructed on this plan is much more pow rful than one acting only by centrifu- :gali force: A

rvReferring more particularly to t the .bnstruetion of the governingvalve and the -Vof the'stem .extends intoaguide 34 and.

' sternv is-co'nnected to the. t 39 which is- Vprovided with a head 25,- through which ton.' Betweenthe sections of the valve are seated ona shoulder lformed on the inside that the levers 40 and 42 'are united by the mechanism lfor `connecting it with the speed Y governor will'be more fully described. v2O represents the steam chest, which may be cast integral with the turbine casing or bolted thereto as desired. It is provided with a vertically disposed cylindrical openigng c ontainin ports 21, 22and 23. Located within the cy indrical opening is a finished sleeve 24 containing ports of definite shape and'size and re 'steringwiththose formed inthe casing. y means of this construction the valve ports can be accurately .formed 1n a piece that is easy to make, ,and expen sive machining on the valve casing is unnecessary. In the present construction three sets of ports are provided in the sleeve which are so s aced with respect to the va1ves:thn.t. the wi be uncovered one afterV the other an covered in a similarway. Each of theV ports 21, 22 and 23 is connected to one, two or more sections' of av sectionalized nozzle,v or to one, two or more independent nozzles or other devices, as best suits the require-4 ments. The underside of the valve chest is.

extends the stem 30, the latter 'having grooves formed therein to "reduce-the leakage. Mounted on the stem is a balanced piston or support 31 built up o'separate parte carrying the valves, which are united y a 1pllurality of axially extending bolts 32. 'Y thus be seen that each valvfe has its own support -and the-.supports in turnjare united 1n a manner to form a balanced .pis-f rings 33 forming the Valvefaces which-determine Y- the amount' of steam passing through the ports injthe sleeve 24 to the wheel buckets. As shown, the ports 2l and 2 2 are fully open, 1andpo1 t 23 is about to open. Steam -haslaccess.to ,both.ends of the piston and thus balances it. Theupper end makes a good t therewitln The guide is carried by a cylindrical, member 35 that is ofthe sleeve'24. Itis-retained Vin place by a ring-.like nut'36 having a .seat 37 onits u per surface for the emenvency or shuto -valve 381 The opening above th'e Vvalve open.to.the .atmos here.v reason oifthisconstruction -it Kbe' seen thatthepiston* valve itself is'balanoed and also, the stem by imson ofl the -fact that both ends are, exposed toatmospheric pressure.

Motion from the governor is imparted to the regulatin valve or valvesby` means of thehorizonta reciprocating rod 19-wh1ch 1s pivotally' connected to the upright lever 40. This lever is carried by the rockls'haft 41 also carrying-'the horizontal lever 42, the latter being connected to the val-ve stem by a pin-and-slot connection. It will be noted In angoverning 'mechanism havin a valve w ich at times is stationaryan at .distances the valve is liable to stick more or less due 4to the static :friction of the parts as wll'as from other causes audits motion is 'sometimes resisted by the fluid flowing ra idly through the ports. I obviate-this` o jection by providing' 'a means that keeps'the valve or valves. in constant vibration, thc

-length of each of. said vibrations inthe present embodiment beingvery short. This feature of my invention is `carried out in the following manner: thefrock-shaft'l form.` inga part of the mechanical connection :be

'tween the governor andvalve-or valves-.iinstead of being mounted in aixedbearing is :mounted in one .that dis constantly vibrated and in this'manner. vibration is im# parted Sto "the 'valve' or valves; The con'- strnction' .isfbe'st shown inFig. 6.`wherein 40'and 42 re resent the levers connected by Vthe rock-shnrtA-l, the'ilatteifbeing mounted inl afbearinge .lwhich is pivotally supported by the stud In order'. to vibratethe bearing ,an f cccentnie ',45 is mounted ,on1 the left-hand end "of the 'ovrex'nonor lowspeed other times changes its position by short shaft.SQtheflatteunm-:in incertain number 6. y-Surrouxidin "the eccentric v1s"a 'strapyit secured-toa ro 47.". On `the end ofthe rod is aA in48ex`1tering` aboss on the-bearing. It w1 lbe observed that the axis of the rockshaftand that., lof thel bearing .supggt are vibrated by the rotation of .the eccentric.` -The governor will therefoi'eset the pistoni.

with its valves in different positions for different 1oads,z. and the eccentric will vi` brate the valves in whatever position ,they occn y. `To statel the matter tin Y other wor s, the eccentric imparts vibratory motion to the pistont and other parts-andthe governor changes theyre fon 1n which,this action takes place.- The enurth of` the vibra-f .tions may bergrat 4ornsnall as.des'iredfto` iis nic-ct the governing conditions;4v the ecoentric being constructed to givelthe desired the levers, rods, etc., must be of asuitable nature to permit of this'vibratory motion.

In the presentembodinlent of the invention provision is madefor this bygleavi I -a suit-' able space between the overnor ro 19 and rod, F1g. lwitli thegovernor, The mechanism ex'11ployed; to4 prevent the throw. Obviously the `connections"between turbine from racingwillfnow be described: Mounted on the s mdle 50 is an emergency i) arranged to engage the to give access to the. removab e strainer 52 for the' steam. Situated above the valve and'keyed to a spindle 53 is a latch for holding the valve open. ,A It comprises a shoulder 54 arranged to engage the end of 'the valve and-a portion 55 which has the double function of assisting to close the valve and resetthe latch. When the portion 54 of theA latch is withdrawn the same motion causes` thel ortion 55 to 'strike the top ofthe valve an start it downward. On the other hand, when` thevalve is opened by manually rockingthe valve spindle 50, the

top of the valve will engage t ie portion 55 l of the latch and cause the .portion 54 to move .under and receive the outer end of the valve when lowered.

.Referring now to Figs. 1- and 3, the construction of the emergency valve operating mechanism will be described. The spindle 53 carrying 'the latch extends-through the valve chest, and fixed to the end thereofis alever 56 havin a pin-and-slot connection 56 with thea justable 'link 57. The con'- nection 56 is such as to cause a hammer blow for insuring the release Vof the latch a'ndalso for closing .the valve. I The'low-er end -of the link is connected to the' lever 58 securely'mounted on the rock-shaft 59. On thefront end of the shaft isla dog 60 arran ed to engage' the tiiggenland hold the ever 58 against thevtension of the spring 62. When the trigger 1s released the spring exerts a. sudden downward pull on the link 57, and by reason of the pm and slot connection 56 imparts'a blow tothe end of the lever 56, thereby releasing the valve- 38 (Fig. 4), -as described. The same action also imparts a blow to the valve. The trigger is pivotally mounted on a projection which is arranged to reach lout and strike the trigger when the speed-'exceeds a certain predetermined amonn For resetting theA emergency valve after steam is cut off from the co`nduit 51, 'the valve spindle is provided with a handle 65. lVhen the valve is shut this handle -stands to the left of th'e position shown, and it is then swung to the right until thepart, 55 and spindle 53. raise the end of the lever 56 and with it the link 57 against the action of the sprng'GQ.. Whenraised suliiciently high the trigger G1 engages the dog 60 after which-the handle 65 1s moved back to the valve, a pivot for the lever, and a, device for again ready for operation.

n win be seen amaai@ pisfonhs a plu-1 single support they are not to be construed i as so lirnlted.

position shown in l andthe turbine is I Yhave shown my invention in connection with admission valves, but it is to be understood that it can be used in connection with stage valves used to control the passageA of steam or other elastic iuid fromone stage to another of a multi-stage turbine. In' accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,` I have described the princlple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I`now consider to frepresent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood thatl the. apparatus shown is onl illustrative, and that the invention can other means;

That I claim as new and desire to secure i by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In a. governing mechanism, the combination ofa valve, a governor` for controllingl carried out ,by

the valve, a lever, means connecting the lever to the governor and to the valve for trans' nnttmg motion from said governor to said oscillating the pivot about an axis at an angle to the axis of said pivot-to thereby vibrate the valve and overcome its static friction.

2. In a governing mechanism, the combi'- nation of a valve, a governor, a mechanical connection between the governor and the'- valve for transmitting movements of the I former to the latter, said connection including a pivoted member, and a means acting to constantly vibrate the pivot of said member about an axis at an angle to the axis of said pivot -independentl of the positions as! sumed by the governor or moving the valve.

3. In a governing mechanism, the cmbi 129' nation of a valve, a Aspeed governor for actuating the valve, a connection betweenA the governor and. the valve including a lever, a

fulcrumfor the lever, and means for"constantly vibrating the 'fulcrum about an axis 125.'

at riht' angles to the axis of said fulcrum tuating the valve, a connection between 'the a governing mechanism, the combination of a valve, a speed governor for ac-` governor and valve including a shaft hav! 13 v vibrating the sha V,movlng the supportabout its axis.

a pivefarmounun 6, In a governing. mechanism, the combinationof a valve, Aa governor, a rock-shaft, v

leversmounted on the shatyone of which Ais connected tothe governor and the other. to the valve, a. bearing for the shaft, a pivot on`which the bearing is movable, and 'a -m'eans for vibrating the bearing on its pivot.

7.- In a governing mechanism, the combi-v nationof a lurality of valves, a governor,

Aa mechanica connection between Athe gover' nor andthe valves which includes a pivoted member for adjusting the4 valves to meet the loadrequirements, and a constantly runnin eccentric for vibrating ,the pivot of sai member about an axis at an angle to the axisY of said pivot. v e

8. In a governing mecl1anism,the combination of a valv 'a governor, a shaft, av Vlever mounted on Ve shaft, a connection bet tween the governorfand the lever, a connece L gtion between the leverfand'the valve, a-bea'rf ing in :which the shaftjis rotatably mounted 0f; T foif, the bearing, an means Afor constant? vibrating 'the' bearing 9. In a gvefrning the combination of a pluralityof valves arranged t regulate the passage of lmotive fluida low-' speed shaft, a governor driven'thereby for actuating the valves, means connecting the governor andthe-valves Whieh includes a rock-shaft and a .pivoted bearing for said shaft, and. an eccentric also driven by the low speed shaft for vibrating the said bear u' ing about its'pivot to thereby vibrate the rock-shaft and valves;l

10. In a governing mechanism, theicombination of a plurahtyof valves arranged to regulate the passage of motive fluid, a sup-. l 5 0 port common to the valves, a low-.speed shaft, a governor drlven thereby, a mechan- Aical connection between the governor andthe support, for actuating the valves, said connection including a lever and a' fulcrum 55 -for said lever, and a. device which constantly vibrates said fulcrum about an axis at an angle to the axis of said fulcrurn to thereby,7 vibrate said connection and the valves.-

11; vIn a governing mechanism, the cnmbi- 60 nation of a valve, a hollow sha-ft, a bearing for the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, agovernor mounted on one end of the shaft, a second shaft arranged adjacent the opposite end ofthe first shaft -with its axis at right angles to the axis of said firstshaft, a lever mounted on the second shaft and connected to the valve, a rod passing through the hollow shaft and having its ends pivotally connected to the lever and the. governor,

a bearing for 'the second shaft, a -pivotal mounting for said bearing having its axis at right angles to the axis of the second'i i shaft; and an eccentric mounted on the end of the hollow shaft adjacent said second-15 shaft and connected to the 'bearing for oscillating it about its` pivot.

12. In. a governing mechanism the combination of a steam chest, a' balanced piston 'valve therein, a rod for the valve one end of 80 which projectsoutwardly through the wallrfff of the chest, a1guide for the other end .of thev rod located 'Within' 'the chest, means forT equalizing the pressure on opposite ends of the rod a governor, and a connection be 85 tween t e governor and the projecting end of the rod.

lIn Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand'this eleventhday of December,4

1906. g c .Y

.RICHARD I-I. RICE. lVitnesses:

JOHN AQ MoMANUs, J r., HENRY O. Wnsrniinanr. 

